UK leisure carrier Jet2 has called on the government to increase funding for aviation engineering apprenticeships, warning that the current funding cap falls far short of actual training costs.

Marking National Engineering Day (November 5), the carrier – which employs more than 1,000 engineers across the UK and currently trains over 30 apprentices through its four-year Level 3 engineering apprenticeship programme – said the cost of training each engineer is roughly three times higher than the current £27,000 funding cap.

With over a quarter of the UK’s aviation engineering workforce expected to retire within the next decade, Jet2 is urging the government to use the upcoming Budget to reform the skills levy and tackle the growing shortage of qualified engineers.

The airline has also urged ministers to reverse their decision to lower the age limit for Level 7 apprenticeships to 21, a move which it says prevents many potential candidates from pursuing advanced technical qualifications.

Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com, said: “With over 1,000 engineers across the UK, including at our new Manchester Airport hangar, Jet2 has tremendous opportunities for apprentice engineers, providing well-paid jobs with great career opportunities.

“Aviation is grounded without these trained engineers, so it is vital that the government addresses the skills shortage which is now staring the industry in the face.

“These simple reforms do not just address this shortfall, they give people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to train in vital, highly skilled jobs.”

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